InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Guardian of Destinies ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

~*~The Guardian of Destinies~*~

 

Miroku walked slowly back to the camp. The initial feeling of shock from Sango lashing out at him dissipated as he remembered the small tear drop that had leaked out of her eye before he had turned away. He knew that she didn't want to cry with him there, and thus decided the best course of action was to return to the others.

 

“Miroku?” was the first thing said to him as he walked back to their chosen camp site. Kagome had stayed back with the others when Miroku offered to go talk to Sango.

 

He gave her a small smile and said, “I think Sango will be fine, but she needs time alone at the moment.” Kagome nodded and returned to her spot near the fire. The kit jumped back into the position on her lap from which he had fallen from when Kagome had quickly risen to her feet at the approach of the Monk.

 

Miroku took a seat between the hanyou and miko at the fire and said nothing more that night. His mind tried to decipher what could be bothering the young Taijiya, but nothing made any sense. As the other members of the group slowly slid off to their chosen resting spots, the monk continued meditating on the meaning of these things which were just beyond reach until his body finally pushed his thoughts aside for a more preferable past time.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Taijiya was currently brooding over a destiny that she didn't want. Nothing seemed to make sense to her. Destiny was supposed to be kind, but she just found out that destiny didn't like being nice to her. She was already in love with someone else, and now she's supposed to marry a person that was nothing more to her than a great friend.

 

Sighing, Sango's tear filled eyes turned to the heavens. Lifting her hand up, Sango wiped away the tears with a frustrated move before they could fall. How did they expect her to be able to do what they want?

 

“You do not need to cry, young one,” a voice said behind her.

 

Startled, Sango turned to the unfamiliar voice, but scowled with anger before turning back once she saw who it was. “What do you want?”

 

The figure sat beside her and waited for a moment before answering, “I came here to apologize for something.”

 

Sango couldn't help the unbelieving sound that escaped her before saying, “Why would you apologize to me?”

 

Usagi smiled to herself before saying, “What I said the other morning led you to believe something that wasn't true. The prophecy is coming true, but you are not meant to be the one to fulfill it.”

 

“What do you mean, I am the last of my house,” Sango's curiosity couldn't help but be present in her voice.

 

Usagi turned to her, and the motion pushed the hood off of her head allowing her locks to fall free. She gave her a genuine grin and said, “I'm surprised at you, Sango. I thought that you were very astute. You really have not figured it out yet? Kagome is descended from you, and thus, from your house, allowing her to be the one to fulfill the promise, and I believe that she will be very happy with fulfilling this promise. Your part in this is just to be happy, and everything will work out.”

 

Usagi couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the look that now adorned to pretty face of the young woman seated next to her. Sango opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out for at least a few minutes. When she was finally able to find her voice, she whispered, “So, I'm free of the fates?”

 

“Well,” Usagi said with a smile, “in so much that you should not believe yourself their slave, for you aren't. Just be happy, Sango, and all will work itself out.” With that, all that remained to show that there had been two women instead of just the one were some sparkles and a feather on the ground to prove that there had been anyone there at all.

 

Sango smiled softly and thought, for the first time ever, of what happiness the future could possibly hold for her and those that she loved.

 

Later that night, Sango returned to the campsite, having fallen asleep after the departure of the unexpected visitor, to find the monk lying on his side near the fire. She smiled at him and placed a blanket on top of the sleeping man. `Maybe life can have a happy ending after all,' was the lingering thought in her mind as she made a pallet so that she could sleep the rest of the hours before sunrise.

 

***

 

Usagi smiled sleepily as she lay back down on the soft grass. She looked up at the stars and thought of her own life. It wasn't a punishment all the time, and she knew that it wasn't meant to be a punishment for being the only survivor. However, knowing that someone had to do this duty did not relieve the burden of being the bearer of it.

 

Sighing softly, Usagi turned to her side and tried to go to sleep before her musings made her depressed as they had a tendency to do. The same amber colored eyes watched her fall back asleep, and would be the first thing she saw when she awoke the next morning.

 

Sesshoumaru watched the mysterious girl fall asleep almost as soon as she laid her head down, and not for the first time did he wonder exactly what she was. She appeared to be a walking contradiction. One moment she would be serious and the next, well, she would be making flower crowns with Rin; at least, that was what she had been doing earlier in the afternoon.

 

Sesshoumaru decided to put his musings to rest for the night and closed his eyes to sleep. The last wondering thought that left his mind before sleep took over his body was, `It is too dangerous for her to wonder around as she does. It will stop.'

 

***

 

The next morning, Usagi awoke, once again, to the toe of a boot tapping her in the ribs. It seemed to her, in that moment, that this would be how she woke up for the duration of her time on this little adventure. `Too many convoluted destinies,' she groaned to herself, `Lady Destiny must be a drama fan.'

 

Usagi tried to ignore the toe, but it turned out to be relentless, and on its fourth poke, she finally opened her eyes. The first thing that met her gaze was a gaze much more powerful than her own, and colored a dark amber color. “Mmm,” Usagi groaned, “why do you always poke me with your boot in the morning? It's too early for this.”

 

“It would not be such a problem,” Sesshoumaru started, “if you did not stay up so late at night.”

 

`Well,' Usagi thought as she gained her footing, `there goes the theory that he doesn't know everything that goes on in the camp.' Gathering up the pallet that she had used the night before, Usagi packed it into her subspace pocket while none of the others were paying attention.

 

After the camp was packed up, Sesshoumaru told Rin to climb onto the back of Ah Un. “You are to return to the palace,” Sesshoumaru told Rin.

 

“Ahhh,” Rin whined, “I don't want to go back. I want to stay with Sesshoumaru-sama and Usagi-sama!” Sesshoumaru gave Rin a hard look and she bowed her head, “Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Upon Sesshoumaru's signal, Ah Un took to the air and headed west of the camp to the palace at the heart of the Western Lands.

 

The three travelers started to head in the same direction. Usagi felt sure that this day would go on forever. Without Rin there to make things interesting, the only person who ever said anything besides her was Jaken, and all he talked about was how weak she was because she was human. She never took the trouble to point out to him that she was not human, but lunarian.

 

Slowly, the sun climbed higher and higher into the sky. The day was proving to be warmer than the day before. Usagi began to lag behind the other two, although they didn't seem to notice. Or, more likely, they didn't care. That was all right with her, she was able to enjoy the walk.

 

When she had fallen back about seven or eight paces, Sesshoumaru stopped and looked around the area. After a complete examination of the area he said, “We will rest here for an hour. Be ready to leave when I return.” With those words, he walked off into the forest.

 

Usagi grinned at Jaken and said, “Does he always behave like that?”

 

Jaken huffed at her statement and said, “Sesshoumaru-sama is the Lord of the West, he will behave as he chooses.”

 

Usagi smiled back at his upturned face and said, “He is really lucky to have such a loyal servant as you, Jaken-sama. I have no doubt that you would die for him.”

 

Jaken looked at her in shock, but he shook himself out of it quickly enough and walked away in a huff. Usagi, who had sat down on a log nearby, bowed her head as she rubbed her right foot. She couldn't help but smile at him.

 

Slowly, the sun moved, and the end of the hour finally came. When Sesshoumaru walked back into the clearing with Jaken right behind him, he found the mysterious girl asleep on a patch of grass near a log. Apparently, she was much more exhausted than he had thought her to be. Unsurprised at her weakness, he walked over to wake her up. However, before his shoe could come in contact with her side, she sat up and said, “Not so fast, I'm up, so no poking this time.”

 

With that, there silent journey began again, but Usagi was in a much better mood than she had been before. The cherry blossoms were in bloom, the birds were singing, and winter had finally gone at last. Things were looking very hopeful to her on this day.

 

***

 

Somewhere far from the three that journeyed west, a small figure was resting under a full grown cherry tree. A small squirrel ventured near the apparently sleeping figure, but quickly ran away again when the figure moved slightly. However, this boy was not sleeping, but thinking very hard. Completely unaware of his surroundings due to the chaos the controlled his mind, he hadn't noticed the above mentioned squirrel, or the beauty of the day around him.

 

The main thought floating around in his head was of what action he should take. He had reached a cross road, and now it was time to choose. One way led to being an outcast, a wanderer for the rest of his life. A part of him felt that this was the path he should choose. After all of the evil and havoc that he had caused, all of the pain and suffering and death that his hands had dealt out, why should he be forgiven? The other path led to forgiveness, to love, to family. It would take him to Inuyasha's forest, and subsequently, to Inuyasha. Going to Inuyasha would lead him to his sister, the one person in the entire world he wanted to see the most was the one person that he was afraid to see the most.

 

“What is there to worry so hard about on this beautiful day, young one?” A voice questioned from behind him.

 

Immediately startled, the boy jumped to his feet while grabbing the weapon that he had brought with him. Turning, however, he found that only an old woman with a basket of healing herbs was standing there. After lowering both his weapon and his guard, he noticed that she was wearing miko clothing. “Who are you?”

 

“My name is Kaede, and I am a miko from a village not far from here,” was her reply as she walked closer to him. “What ails you this day?”

 

“A decision,” was the only reply he was willing to make. She seemed nice enough, but he had learned the hard way that not all things are as they seem.

 

Kaede nodded in understanding, “As it has been said, `our choices determine the path of the fates.' Great courage is needed to make the right decision. If need be, I am willing to listen should you need an ear?”

 

“I know what must be done, miko-sama,” he answered her. “The hard part is doing it. I do not need an ear, just time to find the courage I lack.”

 

Kaede smiled at the boy and said, “If time is what you need, this I can give. Will you come to my village and rest a bit?”

 

Kohaku smiled at her and nodded. Walking over to the old woman, he took the basket out of her hands. At her shocked look, he said, “I will carry this if you will lead the way.”

 

“This I will,” with that and a friendly smile, Kaede took the lead with Kohaku behind her. “It is a day's walk. We will reach the village come night fall.” And thus, Kohaku unknowingly headed towards the thing that he believed he lacked the courage to see through.

 

***

 

Evening was approaching as the small group made it through the forest of Inuyasha. They were on their way to see Kaede before Kagome returned to her time. She had made them come back because she had a math test in two days. `Why are those damn things so important?' Inuyasha had questioned, but he came back with her after a good `sitting' from Kagome.

 

The village had come into sight just as the sun had gone down over the hill in the distance. The evening light was still enough to see by, but they decided a quicker entrance into the village was needed. Inuyasha took Kagome onto his back, and Sango and Miroku climbed onto the back of the fire cat youkai, Kirara.

 

Laughing to herself at the freedom of feeling the wind against her face, Sango didn't realize that Miroku had smiled at her from behind. She had been so happy ever since her talk with that mysterious woman that she couldn't help but smile and laugh at everything. As Kirara came to a stop on the ground near Kaede's hut, Sango and Miroku both jumped off of her back and she reverted to `kitty' size.

 

Just as Sango landed, Inuyasha came bounding up with Kagome, and she banged him over the head after they came to a stop. “Why did you have to go and jump like that when I asked you to wait a moment?”

 

“Feh,” Inuyasha scoffed, “Sango and Miroku still got here before we did. You were taking too long.”

 

“So this was a race?” Kagome asked nicely. Inuyasha looked a little taken aback. “Inuyasha?” she said again with a sickeningly sweet voice.

 

“What?” Inuyasha replied with a very guarded tone.

 

“SIT!” Kagome yelled at him. Immediately, he was thrown to the ground. “I almost FELL off because of YOUR stupidity!”

 

Sango laughed and turned from Inuyasha to Kagome and said, “Let's go inside and get something to eat. Will it be all right if you don't head home until tomorrow?”

 

“Yeah,” Kagome said as the two women turned towards the door. “I think that my family may already be in bed, so it's probably best if I wait until tomorrow.” The two continued talking as they entered the house.

 

Once Inuyasha was able to stand up, Miroku said, “Tsk tsk tsk, you should know by now not to do that.”

 

“Feh,” Inuyasha nearly growled at the monk. However, Miroku was not intimidated, so he huffed out: “This from the idiot who always ends up with a hand print on his cheek?”

 

The two walked in, and immediately hit the backs of Kagome and Sango. Looking up to see what was wrong, they both immediately went on guard. There, in front of them, and equally shocked, sat none other than Kohaku. And in this moment, Kaede walked into the hut from the garden in the back.

 

***

 

“We'll rest here for the night,” Sesshoumaru informed the two following him. Usagi let out a sigh of relief at this piece of news. The day had been hot and humid, the worst type of day for the pace that Sesshoumaru sat. Usagi decided that he was doing one of two things. Either he was setting this grueling and tiring pace in order to get somewhere very quickly, although she knew that there were other ways to travel, or he was testing her to find out if she was `worthy of being in his company,' or some other non-sense like that.

 

“Would you know if there is a spring near here?” Usagi asked her silent companion.

 

“Half a kilometer to the east,” was all that he said.

 

Smiling to herself, Usagi headed in that direction. A nice bath was just what she needed, and she didn't care whether or not the water was hot or cold. Humming the melody of a song her mother used to sing to her, Usagi came upon the spring. Though she did not care whether the water was hot or cold, she was pleased to discover that it was warm.

 

Stripping out of her clothes, she left them beside the pool of water and waded in. After thoroughly cleaning herself from the day's dirt and grime, she found a comfortable spot to rest in. Soon, her mind wandered to an odd fact. Adventures like this never lasted for more than a day or two for her normally, but now she was finishing up day three. This was a first since she had started working with Destiny.

 

“I wonder when I will be called back to my normal duty,” Usagi mused aloud to herself. According to Jaken, they would reach the palace tomorrow close to noon. If she was still with them tomorrow, she would really love to be with Rin again. Rin was a personal favorite of hers, and Usagi always loved checking on her. This was the first time she had come to watch over the girl since she had instigated Sesshoumaru's sword to heal her after the attack of the wolves.

 

Thankfully, Sesshoumaru hadn't noticed her then because she had been wearing the cloak given to her by Destiny. “This will guard your scent and presence from demons, but if you are seen, then you are seen. If you take the hood off, both your presence and your scent will be once again there for the demons to find, so be careful,” was the warning given to her.

 

Enjoying the water for a little longer, Usagi decided that if she didn't get back soon, she might find a little green toad demon looking for her. Sighing with contentment, she climbed out of the water towards her clothes. Picking them up, her nose wrinkled at the foul smell, “Perhaps it's time for a new set of clothes.” Suddenly, a bag appeared out of no where in her hands and she pulled a set of clothing out of it. Smiling to herself, she began to dress.

 

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru was sitting under a tree nearby. Before she had left, he had used both his scent and chi to set a barrier so that no wandering demons would `accidentally' find their way into the chosen camp area. As he was waiting for her, he thought about the day that was now coming to an end. He had sent Rin ahead so that she wouldn't have to go through the trial that he had been planning. He knew that if she was human, she wouldn't have made the day through, but she had. `Apparently,' he thought, `the fairy tales aren't just tales after all.'

 

Looking to his side, Sesshoumaru saw that Jaken had fallen asleep. He had pushed him hard today, also, in trying to prove to himself that the tales were not true. His father had tried to tell him, but Sesshoumaru had refused to listen. Things were starting to become clearer and clearer as he realized that fate had set things up this way.

 

Usagi walked back into the camp, and the first thing that he noticed was her now clean scent. He had come to the conclusion that she had wanted to clean herself after the rigorous testing he had put her through. She walked a little closer, and began to set up a pallet for sleeping.

 

“So,” Usagi said as she sat on top of her pallet. Sesshoumaru looked up surprised that she had spoken, “how did I do?”

 

“Hmm,” he grunted at her.

 

Usagi smiled, “I guess that's a `You did great, Usagi-sama'” He grunted again. Usagi giggled at him.

 

“Good night, Sesshoumaru-sama,” Usagi said. She climbed into her pallet and went to sleep for the night. She prayed that this little break from her duty would last just a few more days.

 

~*~

 

“Usagi,” a voice called to her. “Usagi…wake up… Usagi…”

 

Slowly, she opened her eyes to see nothing but fog. She groaned. Apparently, her wish hadn't been granted. “I'm being called back?” she asked, but she already knew the answer. This was how she was always called back to the gates of time and fate.

 

“No,” the eerie voice said. At first, the answer didn't register, and then Usagi looked up surprised.

 

“I'm not?” Usagi asked.

 

“No,” sounded the same reply, “I have contacted you to give a message for a dear friend.”

 

Usagi looked confused and inquired, “What message?”

 

“Before the destruction of your kingdom,” Destiny started to explain, “I was asked to save this message to give to you at the end of you duties by your mother.”

 

Here, she interrupted, because she really didn't understand, “What do you mean the end of my duties?”

 

“Please, Serenity-sama, listen,” the voice almost laughed. “Your duties have now come to an end, and it is time for your destiny to play out. Your mother asked me to tell you to be happy and remember that things are not as bad as they appear. Even though she is gone, she loves you still and will always be with you.”

 

Usagi swallowed her tears at the thoughts of her mother and held her composure. Then Destiny continued what she was saying, “Now, your duties to me are over. I have another who will perform these duties. You are free to fulfill both your destiny, and Rin's. She is your only charge now, so be happy.”

 

~*~

 

Usagi sat up straight and looked around her. There were all her things, the things that she always left at the gate. On top of her the bag nearest her was a note that said `be happy my daughter.'

 

To be continued…